Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-19.4° (< −18°)
20:01:27
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 7m of true darkness · 13h 40m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:03
Civil Dusk18:36
Nautical19:13
Full Dark19:50
Nadir00:53
Dark Ends05:57
Nautical06:33
Civil Dawn07:11
Sunrise07:43
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE29.6°
DISTANCE379,969 km
Moonrise16:41
Moonset05:29
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX46% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
76/100
Fine observing conditions. Open star clusters and nebulae will exhibit crisp structure.
CLOUD COVER15%
HUMIDITY50%
VISIBILITY18 km
DEW POINT10.8°C
| PLANET | STATUS | MAGNITUDE | ALTITUDE | AZIMUTH | CONSTELLATION | RISE | TRANSIT | SET | EQUIPMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venus♀ | Below Horizon | -4.3 | -25.3° | 272° | Libra | 08:14 | 12:47 | 17:21 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -25.2° | 349° | Leo | 01:29 | 08:45 | 15:57 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 23.3° | 117° | Pisces | 17:31 | 23:40 | 05:48 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -22.3° | 358° | Cancer | 00:37 | 08:10 | 15:41 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -13.7° | 254° | Libra | 09:53 | 14:11 | 18:29 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 5.1° | 63° | Taurus | 19:22 | 03:11 | 11:03 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 25.9° | 125° | Pisces | 17:09 | 23:10 | 05:10 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:41
BEST TIME22:57S · 43° high
SETS05:29
Reaches about 43° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:29
BEST TIME08:45S · 55° high
SETS15:57
Reaches about 55° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:31
BEST TIME23:40S · 42° high
SETS05:48
Reaches about 42° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:14
BEST TIME12:47S · 23° high
SETS17:21
Reaches about 23° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:37
BEST TIME08:10S · 59° high
SETS15:41
Reaches about 59° above the horizon at its highest point.Distinctive crimson hue; polar ice cap discernible near opposition.
M31 / NGC 224 · Andromeda
Spiral Galaxy (2.5M ly)Andromeda Galaxy
Our galactic neighbor; visible as a ghostly oval smudge with dense radiant stellar core.
M45 · Taurus
Open Star ClusterThe Pleiades (Seven Sisters)
Breathtaking blue diamond cluster enshrouded in delicate interstellar reflection nebulosity.
M42 / NGC 1976 · Orion
Diffuse Emission NebulaGreat Orion Nebula
Star nursery harboring the brilliant Trapezium cluster with sprawling bat-wing filaments.
NGC 869 & NGC 884 · Perseus
Twin Open ClustersThe Double Cluster
Pair of spectacular shimmering jewel-boxes bursting with ruby supergiant stars.
M13 / NGC 6205 · Hercules
Globular Cluster (300k stars)Great Globular Cluster in Hercules
Massive beehive of ancient stars packed tightly together into a blazing central ball.
M57 / NGC 6720 · Lyra
Planetary NebulaThe Ring Nebula
Delicate glowing smoke-ring left behind by a dying star 2,500 light-years away.
